Alcoholism is an Illness, Not a Moral Issue

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  Posted by Patricia Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:38am PDT

  No one knows how or when the normal drinker crosses that invisible "line" into the disease of alcoholism - but, once that occurs, the alcoholic looses all ability to control his/her drinking. They say "the first one gets you drunk"...not the 4th, 5th, or 12th. The chemical reaction in the brain sets up the obsession to want "more" and is totally beyond the will power and control of the alcoholic. Total admission of powerlessness and a willingness to change are paramount to the success of the alcoholic to regain his/her life. Once the admission is made, then the alcoholic "must" find a higher power of his/her choice for help on a daily basis to overcome this insidious disease. By the way - this is the only disease known to man which cannot be diagnosed by your doctor, relatives, friends or neighbors...it must be diagnosed by the alcoholic himself...total submission and surrender are paramount to survival.

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  Posted by HawkeyeGirl Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:42pm PDT

  As the child of an alcoholic father, I firmly believe that alcoholism is a choice, not an illness. I understand that some people are more susceptible to addictive behavior, but those people have the free will to choose to stay away from whatever substance they abuse. My father had a stroke at age 42 which forced him to face up to his poor choices, and even HE agrees that he knew he couldn't handle having just one, but he decided that he'd rather drink than spend time with us kids and our mom, do work around the house, or whatever.

  I DO have sympathy for alcoholics and the challenges they face. However, allowing them to believe that it's an illness that they can't control provides them the excuse that they need to avoid taking responsibility for their own behavior. Once they realized that they CAN choose to stop drinking, they can make that choice and move forward with their lives. If they think it's an illness, it's easy to say, "well, I can't control sickness" and grab another beer.

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  Posted by nancy Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:08pm PDT

  HawkeyeGirl-

  Reread the article-I too had an alcoholic father & I am my father's daughter. Your father did not "decide" to drink instead of being with you-alcholism is an obsession of the mind & BODY. The physical craving is too insense for a non-alcoholic to understand-why elese would It take three shots of vodka in the morning to get at least one to stay down to stop the physical hell of my body's reactions-do you think I chose to do that each morning? Saying it is an illness is not an excuse but an understanding that there are preventative measures one must take. I was a not a bad person but a sick person who is trying to get well, but first I had to deperately want it more than anything on earth even if it meant giving up everyone & everything I loved. I also had breast cancer-I did not choose it but I had to take chemotherpy & medicine to keep it at bay-that is what AA is to me-chemo for alcoholism. It is the toughest job of my life but also the most rewarding. One thing we are taught is that I must understand that a non-alcholoic will never understand. With all your resentment toward your father you should seek some support also or you could go down that road yourself & not realize it until it is too late like I did. Sobriey is the hardest job of my life and I will not recover until I am dead. What a prognosis for a disease don't you think? A fatal disease that garners no sympathy-would you have been sympathetic when I had breast cancer? Search deep in your heart for forgiveness-he is the only father you will ever have and remember-"there but for the Grace of God go I"

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  Posted by mzzbea Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:42pm PDT

  My step dad was an alcoholic, his only son, my half brother is an alcoholic. While my father served as a parental role model for both me and my brother, I am not an alcoholic. I have to believe that genetics is a factor. Both my step dad's parents died early from liver disease brought on by their alcohol abuse. It is an illness, but

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  Posted by Julie Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:52pm PDT

  You are a wise woman, Jennifer Ginsberg

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  Posted by Clarissa Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:40pm PDT

  Alcoholism is a disease,a really sad one. I think it's so hard for those of us who are not alcoholics to comprehend their illness/obsession that we think there is some choice in their drinking. I also think there's a shameful lack of affordable treatment for alcoholics. AA is not enough for most of them.

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  Posted by Angela Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:46pm PDT

  This is a lot better than the other articles I've seen on this website from Jennifer Ginsberg. However, the article makes no mention of the fact that alcoholism is a family disease. Not only the alcoholic suffers, but also those who do not drink, especially immediate family, and even friends and co-workers.

  Ms. Ginsberg writes:

  "How many of us have known and loved an alcoholic or addict, but have inadvertently helped exacerbate the situation by cleaning up their messes or flat-out denying that the problem exists? We only have to look at Daniel Schuler, Diane's husband, who now is begrudgingly admitting that his wife "occasionally smoked pot and drank," to witness the potentially tragic and deadly result of enabling an alcoholic."

  Those who love or have loved someone afflicted with the disease of alcoholism learn defense mechanisms and survival skills to cope with all the shame, fear, anger, guilt, confusion, betrayal, and countless other emotions brought on by the unpredictable behaviors of the alcoholic. These loved ones become just as sick as the alcoholic. They too must work to realize how they suffer from the disease of alcoholism, and how they must change their own attitudes and become open and willing to change themselves.

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  Posted by =] Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:52pm PDT

  ALCOHOLISM IS A DISEASE NOT A CHOICE! WHY ARE PEOPLE SO JUDGMENTAL! A few people close to me are alcoholics, and by no means it's a choice.

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  Posted by Angela Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:55pm PDT

  Clarissa,

  You're absolutely right about affordable treatment. Althouh there are many facilities that will find funding for minimal treatment, rehab stays have been cut in many places from the original 28/30 days to 14 days, regardless of medical insurance. Many people who suffer from alcoholism and/or addiction require treatment in a rehab facility, and of those, a large number relapse and need to repeat their stay. This has been the norm for all mental health treatments.

  Alcoholism is a life long disease. There is no cure.

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  Posted by james p Sat Aug 22, 2009 4:00am PDT

  it's hard to understand one's drinking or drug addiction till one has walked in their shoes...if you haven't....be grateful.

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